Texas Court Clears Rick Perry of Criminal Charges

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry was cleared Wednesday of all criminal charges against him related to allegations he misused his power while in office.

In a 6-2 ruling, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed the abuse-of-power charge that had loomed over the former Republican governor — including during his short-lived presidential campaign, which ended last September.

The charge was filed after Perry threatened – and then carried out – a veto of state funding for a group of public corruption prosecutors after the Democratic head of the unit refused to resign.